Bottle dispenser



Oct. 18, 1966 J. E. BERGS'I 'EDT BOTTLE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet l FlledDec. 16, 1964 Z m P INVENTOR Joy/v E 569 7 /A/'ITORNEY Oct. 18, 1966 J.E. BERGSTEDT 3,279,618

BOTTLE DISPENSER Filed Dec. 16, 1964 5 Sheets$heet 3 INVENTOR Jo/aw E.55/?037'507' L/ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,279,618 BOTTLE DISPENSERJohn E. Bergstedt, 2182 Wellesley Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Filed Dec. 16,1964, Ser. No. 418,836 4 Claims. (Cl. 21149) This invention relates toan improvement in Display Racks and deals particularly with a rackuseful in the dispensing of various products.

Display racks have been produced for a great number of years. In certaininstances, these racks include a series of side by side guide-ways, eachof which is designed to accommodate items of a pre-determined sizearranged one behind the other. The guide-ways are tilted to the extentnecessary so that when-the foremost unit is removed, the remaining unitsWill advance forwardly until the foremost one again strikes an abutmentwhich holds the units for further movement.

Such racks have been used particularly well in conjunction with cannedgoods, as the cylindrical cans may be placed with axis horizontally andwill roll toward the forward portion of the rack even when the rack isat but a slight slope. However, such r-acks have not been particularlypractical for use with rectangular objects, such as paper board cartonsof milk and the like, rectangular six-pack packages of beer and otherbeverages, or cans arranged with their axis upright, in view of the factthat slope of the racks must be relatively steep in order to function.Unless the guide-ways are sloped to the extent Where the weight of theunits overcomes the co-eflicient friction, the units will not slideforwardly when the foremost unit is removed.

I have found that much of the previous difiiculty may be obviated bysupporting the units in the guide-ways on bars of a materialcommercially known as Teflon. This material has a naturally slipperysurface which greatly reduces the co-efiicient friction. By providingrelatively narrow supporting bars of this material, instead of providingrelatively wide trays, or solid metal shoots for supporting the goods,the rack will function effectively even when the guide-ways are at arelatively small angle with respect to the horizontal. As a result, theneed for inplanting the racks at a substantial angle, is eliminated.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of arack which is extremely inexpensive to produce. In general, thedispensing rack includes a series of rectangular frames preferably madeof strips of angle iron connected by mitered corners. One flange of allof the angle iron strips are on a common plan, while the right angularlyextending flange forms an outer encircling wall. The guide-ways areinexpensively constructed in these rectangular frames.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the simplicity ofthe construction. An insert of wood or other suitable material, issupported along two opposed edges of the frame, and the inner opposedwalls of these inserts are notched. Bars of Teflon are supported inparallel relation by these two opposed sides of the frame, the ends ofthe Teflon bars' being engaged in the notches. A divider, preferably inthe form of a cylindrical rod, is provided between each pair of Teflonbars and the next adjoining pair. The dividers are based apart adistance substantially equal to, but slightly larger than, the width ofthe units of product being dispensed. The length of the frame issuflicient to accommodate a pre-determined number of units. Accordingly,the rack is easy and inexpensive to produce.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of arack of the type in question, which requires an extremely small numberof different parts. The frames used on a rack of a predetermined sizeare of "ice identical form. The Teflon bars, which are used, are also'of identical form. The dividers which are used, may also be ofidentical form. Thus, to provide a rack which is of a size suitable forcontaining units of product of the predetermined Width, it is onlynecessary to regulate the position of the notches in the notchedinserts. In other words, the notched inserts which are used for formingguide-ways to dispense relatively narrow units, are closer together andare greater in number than for forming guide-ways designed forsupporting wider units.

These, and other objects and novel features of the present invention,will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specificationand claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1, is a side elevational view showing a dispensing rackconstructed for the dispensing of liquids in cartons similar to thepaper cartons used for containing milk.

FIGURE 2, is a top plan view of one of the frames forming a part of therack illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3, is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section showing theforward portion of the racks shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4, is a vertical sectional view through one of the frames, theposition of the section being indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5, is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a modifiedform of rack used for dispensing sixpack packages of canned productssuch as beer.

FIGURE 6, is a sectional view through a frame of the rack shown inFIGURE 5, the position of the section being indicated by the line 66 ofFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7, is a perspective view of one of the inserts used at each endof the frame of the dispenser used for dispensing of six-packs.

FIGURE 8, is a perspective view of the insert used at the rear end ofeach frame of the rack shown in FIG- URES 1 through 4 of the drawings.

FIGURE 9, is a perspective view of the insert used at the forward end ofeach frame in the rack shown in FIG- URES 1 through 4.

As the present construction has been mainly used for the storage anddispensing of six-packs of beer, and paper board cartons of milk andallied products, the racks indi'cated in general by the letter A, areusually placed in walk-in coolers which are indicated in general by theletter B. The racks A are usually positioned adjoining the forward wall10 of the walk-in cooler B, and the forward side of each rack ispositioned adjacent to a door opening 11, normally closed by slidingdoors such as 12 and 13. The sliding doors 12 and 13, are normallysupported in tracks such as 14 and 15, which extend along the upper andlower edges of the door opening 11, and the doors 12 and 13, may be slidin either direction to expose the forward end of the rack.

The display rack A, includes a series of superposed frames 16, which maybe of identical construction, or which may vary slightly in form toaccommodate items of different widths. For example, the racks 16, shownin FIGURE 1 of the drawings, may be mainly formed to accommodatetwo-quart cartons of milk or the like. However, one or more of theracks, as shown at the upper portion of FIGURE 1, may be arranged todispense pint or half-pint cartons D, and one-quart cartons such as E.The only difference between these frames lies in the position of theTeflon bars, the spacing of the dividers between the guide-ways, and thearrangement of notches in the inserts.

The rack A usually is supported by four legs or uprights secured to thesides of the individual frames. Preferably, the legs on one side of eachframe are olfset forwardly or rearwardly from the legs on the oppositeside of the frame, so that one rack may be positioned closely adjacentthe other rack with only the thickness of a single leg therebetween. Asis indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the front legs 17, onthe right side of the rack A as viewed from the front, are secured tothe frames 16, at points spaced forwardly of the points of attachment ofthe legs 19, connecting the forward ends of the frame 16, on the lefthand side of the frames when viewed from the front. In a similar manner,the legs 20, or uprights connecting the right-hand sides of the frames16, near the rear corners of the frames located '25, connected at rightangular relation along mitered corners to provide a rectangular frame.Usually, the frame is longer from front to rear thanfrom side to side,in view of the fact that the width of the rack is usually limited to theapproximate width of the sliding doors 12 and 13, and to provide roomfor a substantial number of units of product in each guide-way.

The various frame pieces 22, 23, 24 and 25, are formed with thegenerally horizontal flanges in a common plane, and the generallyvertical flanges extending upwardly from the outer margins of thehorizontal flanges in a common plane. For example, with reference toFIGURE 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the generally horizontalflange 26, of the front of the front frame member 25, is in coplanerrelation with the horizontal flange 27, of the side frame member 22, andwith the generally vertical flanges 29 and 30, of the angles and 22,extending upwardly therefrom, The manner in which the inserts arepositioned, is also indicated in FIGURE 3, and

being understood that the inserts overlie the horizontal flanges of thefront and rear frame members 25 and.24 respectively. The forward insert31 shown in FIGURES 3 and 9 of the drawings, is constructed as bestillustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings. The insert 31, comprises anelongated strip of wood or other suitable material which is ofrectangular cross-section and which is provided along its rear edge32,.with pairs of rectangular notches 33, the number of pairs of notchesbeing similar to the number of guide-ways which the frame is to support.The insert which is designed to be supported by therear frame member 24,is indicated in general by the numeral 34,

in FIGURE 8 of the drawings. The insert 34, also comprises an elongatedstrip of wood or other similar material, designed to overlie thegenerally horizontal flange of the rear frame member 24, and includes,in its inner edge 35, a series of pairs of notches 36, which are spacedsimilarly to the notches 33, and are in opposed relation thereto.Elongated bars 37, of Teflon or material having similar properties,extend from the front frame member 25, to the rear frame member 24, andthe end of each of the bars 37, are engaged in opposed notches 33 and36. As indicated in FIGURE 3, of the drawings, the Teflon bars 37,extendabove the level of the insert 31, and also above the level of the rearinsert 34. The spacing between the notches of each pair of notches, 33and 36, is perhaps equal to one-half the width of the units such as theunit C supported in the guideways.

A series of vertical apertures 39, extend through the insert 31, betweeneach pair of notches 33, and the next adjoining pair. Additional vertialapertures 40, are provided near the ends of the insert 31, the spacingbetween the apertures 40, and the next adjacent aperture 39, usuallyequalling the spacing between the apertures 39. These apertures 39 and40, are designed to accommodate one end of dividers or dividing rails,which will be later described.

The insert 34, is also provided with a series of vertical apertures 41,extending therethrough, these apertures being between each adjacent pairof notches 36. Apertures 42, are also :provided near each end of theinsert 34, and

4: the spacing between the aperture 42, and the next adjacent aperture41,is preferably equal to the spacing be tween the adjoining apertures41.

With reference now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a divider or dividingrail indicated in general by the numeral 43, extends from the frontinsert 31, to the rear insert 34. Each guide rail 43, includes anintermediate portion 44, which is designed to extend inparallel'relation to the Teflon bars 37, and a pair of paralleldown-turned ends 45 and 46. The down-turned ends 45 and 46, are designedto extend into opposed apertures in the front insert 31, and rear insert34, respectively. The central portions 44, of the dividers 43, aresubstantially above the upper surfaces 47, of the Teflon bars 37, andengage opposite sides of the units such as C to hold the ,units in eachguide-way in alignment.

The front insert 31, differs from the rear insert 34, in

providing an additional pair of vertical apertures 49,

which are located intermediatethe notches. of the outermost'pair ofnotches 33. Asindicated in FIGURE 4, of the drawings, an abutmentforming rail 50, is provided including a horizontal central portion 51,and parallel down-turned ends 52,. which are frictionally engaged in theapertures 49. The rail 50, engages the surfacesof the foremost units ofproduct C to hold the .unitsfrom falling from the forward ends of theguide-way. The rail 50, preferably engages the units C at a point lowenough to permit the units to be manually tilted forwardly and removedfrom the guide-ways, while at the same time engaging the units highenough so that they cannot tilt over the abutment 50, as they slide downthe guideways against the abutment.

In the arrangement illustrated, the forward frame members 26, may beprovided with a molding 53, designed to accommodate price tags or thelike. As molding of this type is in common use, it is not described indetail.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, disclose a modified form of rack which is indicatedin general. by the letter F. The rack F is arranged to support six-packcartons of beer G or a similar product.- Actually, the only differencebetween rack A and F, lies in the fact that the front abutment rail 50,is eliminated and the spacing betweenthe di-. viders and Teflon bars, isvaried to accommodate the packages G. The six-pack cartons are ofgenerally rectangular form and contain six cans of the product;Obviously, the number of can contained as well as the shape of thecarriers, may be varied.

In the rack F, the frames 16, may be identical to those previouslydescribed, and the Teflon bars 37, are also identical to thosepreviously described. The upper surfaces 47, of the Teflon bars 37,extend above the level of the inserts which are indicated in general bythe numeral 60, and are below the level of the general vertical flanges29, of the front frame members 25. As. a result, the upper edges of theflanges 29, provide the abutment against which the cartons G engage. Theabutment rail 50, may be omitted, dueto the fact that the carton C havea length which is greater than the height of the cartons, andaccordingly, there is no tendency for the carton G to tilt over thefront ends of the guide-ways.

. The insert 60, at both the front and rear edges of the frame 16, areconstructed as illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. One edge 61, ofeach insert 60, is notched to provide pairs of notches 62, designed toaccommodate the ends of the Teflon bars 37. Apertures 63, extend throughthe inserts 30, between the notches of adjoining pairs to accommodatethe ends of the separators or dividers 43. Additional apertures 64, areprovided near the ends of the inserts 60. 1 The apertures 64, aredesigned to accommodate the ends of additional dividers 43, which aredesigned to form the outer wall of the outer-most guide-ways.

In order to compensate for variations, in the heights of the racks, thelower ends of the legs 17, 19, 20 and 21, are provided with extensions65, adjustably bolted to the lower ends of the legs by bolts 66. Thebolts 66, extend through slot 67, in the legs to permit relativeadjustment between the individual legs and the leg extensions.

Teflon is a product manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company,comprising a group of synthetic resins based on tetrafluoroethylenepolymers. The bars are usually extruded or molded.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of constructionand operation of the dispensing rack, have been described; and while anattempt has been made to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desireto have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scopeof the following claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A dispensing rack for use in dispensing units of product, the rackincluding:

a series of rectangular frames formed of frame members of angularcross-section arranged with one flange of all frame members in a commonplane and the other right angular frame extending upwardly from theouter edges thereof,

uprights secured to said frames near the corners thereof supporting saidframes in parallel sloping relation with one edge of each frame belowthe level of the opposite edge thereof,

insert strips secured to said one edge and said opposite edge of each ofsaid frame to rest upon the coplanar flanges thereof,

said insert strips having spaced vertical notches in the inner opposedsurfaces thereof,

bars of Teflon extending in parallel relation between said one edge andsaid opposite edge of each frame and having their ends engaged in saidnotches of said insert strips,

parallel dividers extending from said one edge of each frame to theopposite edge thereof between each pair of spaced Teflon bars and thenext pair thereof,

the upper surfaces of said Teflon bars of each frame being on a commonsloping plane substantially parallel to the plane of the frame, and saiddividers extending above said upper surfaces, and

means forming an abutment extending along said one edge of each saidframe member and against which units of product resting upon said Teflonbars may abut.

2. A dispensing rack for use in dispensing a product of substantiallyuniform width, the rack including:

a series of rectangular supporting frames,

means supporting said frames in parallel relation and in slopingrelation with one edge of each frame below the level of the oppositeedge,

at least one series of parallel bar of Teflon extending from said oneedge to said opposite edge and spaced apart a predetermined space,dividers extending parallel to said parallel bars and between pairs ofsaid parallel bars from said one edge to said opposite edge,

said bars and dividers being selectively fixable in spaced parallelrelation,

means selectively engaging said bars and dividers in said predeterminedspaced relation to said frame edges.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said means selectively engagingsaid bars and dividers includes a series of notches in each frame edgein registered relation.

4. The structure of claim 2 and in which an insert strip is secured toeach said frame edge, each said strip having apertures in registeredrelation to the apertures of the other said strip, ends of said bars anddividers engaged in said apertures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,125,557 8/1938Goldman 211-74 X 2,218,444 10/ 1940 Vineyard 211-49 2,649,207 8/1953Shield 211-49 2,905,330 9/1959 Lilja 21l49 2,916,226 12/1959 McGraw242-68.5 3,063,534 11/1962 Amour 211-49 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, PrimaryExaminer.

R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DISPENSING RACK FOR USE IN DISPENSING UNITS OF PRODUCT. THE RACKINCLUDING: A SERIES OF RECTANGULAR FRAMES OF FRAME MEMBERS OF ANGULARLCROSS-SECTION ARRANGED WITH ONE FLANGE OF ALL FRAME MEMBERS IN A COMMONPLANE AND THE OTHER RIGHT ANGULAR FRAME EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THEOUTER EDGES THEREOF, UPRIGHTS SECURED TO SAID FRAMES NEAR THE CORNERSTHEREOF SUPPORTING SAID FRAMES IN PARALLEL SLOPING RELATION WITH ONEEDGE OF EACH FRAME BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE OPPOSITE EDGE THEREOF, INSERTSTRIPS SECURED TO SAID ONE EDGE AND SAID OPPOSITE EDGE OF EACH OF SAIDFRAME TO REST UPON THE COPLANAR FLANGES THEREOF, SAID INSERT STRIPSHAVING SPACED VERTICAL NOTCHES IN THE INNER OPPOSED SURFACES, THEREOF,BARS OF TEFLON EXTENDING IN PARALLEL RELATION BETWEEN SAID ONE EDGE ANDSAID OPPOSITE EDGE OF EACH FRAME AND HAVING THEIR ENDS ENGAGED IN SAIDNOTCHES OF SAID INSERT STRIPS, PARALLEL DIVIDERS EXTENDING FROM SAID ONEEDGE OF EACH FRAME TO THE OPPOSITE EDGE THEREOF BETWEEN EACH PAIR OFSPACED TEFLON BARS AND THE NEXT PAIR THEREOF, THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAIDTELFON BARS OF EACH FRAME BEING ON A COMMON SLOPING PLANE SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE FRAME, AND SAID DIVIDERS EXTENDING ABOVESAID UPPER SURFACES, AND MEANS FORMING AN ABUTMENT EXTENDING ALONG SAIDONE EDGE OF EACH SAID FRAME MEMBER AND AGAINST WHICH UNITS OF PRODUCTRESTING UPON SAID TEFLON BARS MAY ABUT.